In a recent 60 Minutes interview, Vice President Kamala Harris faced questions from CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker regarding her economic policies and the ongoing immigration crisis.

Image Credit: © Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News via USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris campaigns on Aug. 29, 2024, in Savannah, Ga.

When asked how she plans to support small businesses, Harris emphasized the importance of investing in small enterprises, which she referred to as the "backbone of America’s economy."

However, she struggled to provide specifics on how her fiscal policies would navigate a potentially divided Congress.

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“My plan is about saying that when you invest in small businesses you invest in the middle class and you strengthen America’s economy,” Harris stated, but Whitaker pushed for more details.

He interrupted to ask, “Pardon me, Madam Vice President, the question was, ‘How are you going to pay for it?’”

Harris responded by calling for wealthier individuals to pay more in taxes. “It is not right that teachers and nurses and firefighters are paying a higher tax rate than billionaires and the biggest corporations. And I plan on making that fair,” she said.

However, Whitaker pressed again, questioning how such a plan would pass through Congress.

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In addition to her economic proposals, Harris’ handling of the border crisis came under scrutiny.

When asked about the significant increase in illegal border crossings under the Biden-Harris administration, Harris largely deflected, placing blame on Congress for not addressing immigration reform sooner. “There was an historic flood of undocumented immigrants coming across the border for three years of your administration,” Whitaker pointed out, noting that crossings had quadrupled since the last year of President Trump’s administration.

Harris called illegal immigration a "long-standing problem" and argued that her administration had been working on solutions from the beginning.

However, when pressed further by Whitaker about whether the administration’s policies contributed to the rise in crossings, Harris responded, “The policies that we have been proposing are about fixing a problem, not promoting a problem.”

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She added that recent efforts had reduced illegal immigration by half, though Whitaker pointed out the earlier surge.

On the issue of shifting positions, Harris was also asked to address criticism that she has flip-flopped on key issues like fracking, immigration, and Medicare for All.

Harris defended her changing stances, claiming they were part of a broader effort to build consensus among Americans. “What the American people want is that we have leaders who can build a consensus,” she said.

The interview also touched on Harris’ vice presidential running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who acknowledged making exaggerated claims in the past, including false statements about his military record and being in China during the Tiananmen Square protests. Walz admitted, “I will own up to being a knucklehead at times, but the folks closest to me know that I keep my word.”

As Harris and Walz campaign for the White House, questions about their leadership, consistency on policy, and ability to address key issues like the economy and immigration remain at the forefront of the political conversation.

With the 2024 election approaching, their ability/inability to connect with voters and address these challenges will likely determine their success or lack thereof.

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